Spain dropped Lamine Yamal on Tuesday before two World Cup qualifiers after the star forward underwent more treatment on a nagging groin injury.

The Spanish soccer federation said it received notification from Barcelona that Yamal underwent "invasive radiofrequency treatment for discomfort in his pubis."

Spain and Lamine Yamal, France and Kylian Mbappé plus Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo are close to confirming their places at the 2026 World Cup.

Erling Haaland's 12 goals so far have Norway even nearer to sealing the team's first World Cup qualification since before he was born, and edging Italy toward the playoffs where the four-time champion was shockingly eliminated in the past two editions.

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick to help Barcelona gain ground on Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday.

After Madrid was held by Rayo Vallecano to a 0-0 draw — its second consecutive setback following a Champions League loss at Liverpool — Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal led Barcelona to a 4-2 victory at Celta Vigo to move the Catalan club within three points of the lead.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is expected to miss Belgium's upcoming World Cup qualifiers because of a muscle injury.

Madrid said in a statement on Monday the 33-year-old Courtois has been diagnosed with an injury "to the long abductor muscle in his right leg" after undergoing medical tests with the club. The Spanish league side did not specify how long he will be sidelined, saying only that "his recovery will be assessed."

In his 1,000th game as a manager, Pep Guardiola celebrated victory as if it was his first.

Manchester City's 3-0 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday was win No. 716 for Guardiola and likely one of the most satisfying of his trophy-laden career.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka earned a third straight group-stage win at the WTA Finals by beating Coco Gauff 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Thursday, eliminating her American opponent from the tournament in the process.

Sabalenka's win means Jessica Pegula advanced to the semifinals from the group along with the Belarusian No. 1. Pegula beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3 earlier to take her record to 2-1. Gauff, the defending champion, finished 1-2 while Paolini went 0-3 at the season-ending tournament for the world's top eight players.

British police said Friday that 11 people were arrested the previous night around the highly charged Europa League football match in Birmingham between English Premier League side Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, a match that saw fans of the Israeli team banned.

In an update Friday, West Midlands Police said five of those arrested were on suspicion of racially aggravated offenses. The others included failure to comply with orders and breaching the peace.

Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden were recalled Friday by England coach Thomas Tuchel for the team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

The attacking midfielders — two of the country's most talented players — were left out of England's last squad, with Tuchel stressing the need to have a strong team spirit in the camp and warning there would be "no guarantees" for his superstar players.

More than 20,000 Barcelona fans filled a part of the modernized Camp Nou stadium on Friday to watch the team practice there for the first time since it was closed for a major facelift over two years ago.

Fans cheered as Lamine Yamal and teammates ran onto the field.

Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne underwent an operation on his injured hamstring in his native Belgium on Wednesday, the Serie A club announced.